Unique: Renowned Australian photographer Ponch Hawkes’ exhibition, titled 500 Strong, highlights woman over 50.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Renowned Australian photographer Ponch Hawkes has arrived with a thought-provoking exhibition at Shepparton Art Museum.
Renowned Australian photographer Ponch Hawkes has unveiled a photo exhibition titled 500 Strong, a bold and proactive display of women over 50, at Shepparton Art Museum.
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She said the exhibition had attracted significant interest in Melbourne.
“Well, it's thrilling, and everybody I know says it's really impressive,” Ms Hawkes said.
“I'm showing at the new Shepparton Art Museum because, you know, people are talking about it in Melbourne because it's such a great space.”
The artist said she was on a mission to photograph 500 Victorian women, having been one of 22 artists who commissioned a show in Melbourne titled Flesh After Fifty.
The show was instigated by Melbourne University professor of obstetrics and gynaecology Martha Hickey, who wanted to support research into the early stages of menopause.
“She (Prof Hickey) just sort of felt she had no materials to give, especially (in terms of) the research of early menopause. And so she thought maybe this could work,” Ms Hawkes said.
She said it was a brave undertaking by those photographed, with the pictures showing naked women aged from 50 to 92.
The exhibition features women sending messages about contemporary issues, including climate change and the #MeToo era.
“There were a few issues such as climate change, and women’s rights were touch(ed) on in the photos, with women wearing all sorts of masks,” Ms Hawkes said.
Proud of the work: SAM curator Caroline Esbenshade with artist Ponch Hawkes and SAM chief executive Melinda Martin. Picture: Cam Matheson.
Photo by
Cam Matheson
Ms Hawkes herself features in her exhibition, and said it had been a great experience.
“It’s weird, because I did it first up without anything over my face, and I thought, you know something, (I’m) photograph(ing) an awful lot of people, I don’t want them to be seeing me naked when I’m taking their photos,” she said.
“So we came back and did it again. But the fact of the matter is that I was just working out the other day that I have posed for a photo for this over 20 times because I think we did 22 shoots and for every shoot I was the model to get the lighting right.”
SAM chief executive Melinda Martin worked with Ponch early in her career, and said this latest exhibition was about testing the boundaries of what museums could be.
In black and white: 500 Strong is on display in SAM’s Community Gallery until November 27.
Photo by
Cam Matheson
“I have, in my very early career, worked with Ponch in acquiring works into the collection that I managed. So it's a fascinating kind of conversation to feed this new body of work ... and it's about testing the boundaries of what museums can be, what kind of engagement can we have with our community,” she said.
“And I think it's essential to be talking about how women are represented in society, what roles they have.”
Community curator Caroline Esbenshade said 500 Strong was her first project at SAM, but she was happy to take on the enormous task.
“As one of the new curatorial staff, I was very excited to take on this project,” Ms Esbenshade said.
She said the project was about a beautiful conversation and a way to create interesting discussions.
The oldest participant was a 92-year-old woman, who heard about it when the curator was talking about it on radio. Ms Hawkes said it was terrific seeing her willingness to take part.
“And she said to her niece, I want to do that. Her niece brought along her niece, and it was great fun,” Ms Hawkes said.
The award-winning exhibition will close on November 27, before appearing at other venues across Victoria.
